“Implementing nonpolice responses for homeless individuals in mental health and drug crises will provide appropriate support and reduce criminalization.”

Editor’s noteFor Hawaii’s Aug. 10 Primary Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following came from Brendan Schultz, candidate for Honolulu City Council District 5, which includes Palolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Moiliili, McCully, Ala Moana, Makiki and portions of Kakaako. The other candidates are William Muneno and Scott Nishimoto.

Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot.

Candidate for Honolulu City Council District 5

Brendan Schultz
Party Nonpartisan
Age 27
Occupation Nonprofit director, humanitarian aid worker
Residence Makiki, Oahu

Website

Community organizations/prior offices held

Humanity in Action, fellow; LeadNext, The Asia Foundation, fellow, MCW Young Leaders Access Program, fellow; Hansen Leadership Institute, fellow; Davis Fellow for Peace; U.S. State Department Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study Scholar to Macedonia.

1. What is the biggest issue facing your district and what would you do about it?

The biggest issue facing District 5 is the high cost of living, particularly housing affordability. To address this, I propose a multifaceted approach. First, we must increase the availability of affordable housing by encouraging the development of low- and middle-income housing units through rezoning for greater density in Honolulu’s urban core and increasing tax incentives for private builders.

Implementing equitable property tax reforms — including lowering property taxes for owner-occupants and raising taxes for investors — can help local families stay in their homes. Additionally, investing in efficient public transportation can reduce living costs by providing affordable and reliable commuting options. By focusing on these strategies, we can make Oahu a more affordable place to live.

2. Year after year, we talk about the need to diversify the economy away from a reliance on tourism. Do you think that is even possible and if so what would you do?

As one of the most beautiful places in the world with an abundance of the aloha spirit, tourism will always be the primary driver of Hawaii’s economy.

This is not to say that we should not strive to diversify our economy, but we must understand that, largely due to our geographical limitations as being the most isolated city in the world, Honolulu does not have the same economic opportunities as cities like San Fransisco, Sydney or Tokyo.

As a City Council member, one of my top priorities will be to provide working families with greater opportunities to participate in the economy through small business development, specifically by streamlining county regulatory processes to allow for greater opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

3. In Hawaii, the term affordable housing has lost its meaning. What would you do to help people buy homes or move into rental units?

There is no better solution to Honolulu’s housing crisis than to build housing. I support rezoning Honolulu’s urban core to create mid-rise, mixed-use communities in neighborhoods like Kakaako, Ala Moana, Moiliili, McCully and Makiki.

I will prioritize the construction of affordable rentals funded by the State’s 201H program.

4. The city wanted to eliminate short-term rentals from neighborhoods because they brought overcrowding. On the other hand, a new state law sought to allow for higher density and more construction of homes on the same property which could bring more congestion to some neighborhoods. How do you balance the need for additional housing and private property rights while preserving the character of neighborhoods?

The character of our neighborhoods is already changing for the worse due to the housing crisis. The current housing shortfall has led to rampant homeless encampments and our children fleeing to the continent for a better quality of life.

While I can appreciate the desire to retain neighborhood character, the only way we will solve Honolulu’s housing crisis is by building more housing. With proactive planning, we can increase density while maintaining livability. This desire requires that we create walkable communities with good access to public transportation and ample public amenities like parks.

Proactive urban planning that enables the development of affordable housing will not only retain Honolulu’s unique character but also provide working families with great neighborhoods to live in.

5. What should be the future of the Honolulu rail project? How do you resolve this seemingly endless drain on public money and continuing delays? Should the line continue to Ala Moana as originally planned and how will you keep operating costs under control?

Rail should be completed to Ala Moana as approved by voters to fulfill its intended benefits of reducing traffic congestion and providing efficient public transportation. Despite its earlier cost overruns, the current construction of rail is now progressing at costs comparable to similar infrastructure projects.

To ensure the rail line is completed at cost and on time, we need transparent project management and strict accountability measures, including reforms to the board of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

I have been alarmed by recent accusations of bullying by HART board members. I support the current investigation into these claims, and I will publicly advocate for any individual’s removal from the HART board should they be found to have engaged in such harassing behavior.

6. Homelessness remains a problem on Oahu. What should the city be doing differently?

Addressing homelessness requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach. The city should expand integrated emergency housing services that include housing, mental health care and job training.

Implementing nonpolice responses for homeless individuals in mental health and drug crises will provide appropriate support and reduce criminalization.

Increasing the availability of affordable housing units and providing rent assistance are crucial steps in ensuring stable housing for those in need.

Additionally, fostering partnerships with nonprofit organizations and community groups can enhance the effectiveness of homelessness programs.

7. What should be done to improve policing and police accountability in Honolulu? Should oversight of the police department be strengthened or reformed?

I support enhancing civilian oversight, implementing universal body cameras and mandating de-escalation training.

8. Honolulu has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. What should the city do to alleviate congestion?

The only way to reduce the number of cars on our roads is to provide an efficient and low-cost alternative to driving, which includes improving public transportation, expanding bike lanes in the urban core and developing walkable communities in Honolulu.

Investing in efficient public transportation includes increasing the frequency of bus services and lowering public transportation fares. Expanding protected bike lanes and the Biki Bikeshare system will incentivize people to adopt safe and inexpensive cycling as their primary mode of transportation.

Forward-thinking urban planning that leads to the development of walkable communities will make cars optional for those who live in urban Honolulu.

9. What more should Honolulu be doing to prepare for the effects of climate change, including sea level rise and threats to the reefs?

Honolulu should adopt comprehensive climate action plans to address the effects of climate change, particularly regarding the risk of sea level rise in the urban core. Strengthening coastal infrastructure, such as seawalls and flood barriers, can mitigate the impacts of sea level rise.

Protecting our reefs through marine conservation programs and reducing pollution can preserve these vital ecosystems. Additionally, community and visitor education are key to promoting sustainable environmental practices and ensuring the protection of the natural beauty of our island.

10. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to fill vacancies on the police department, the parks department, and in many other city agencies. The city is struggling to provide basic services. What would you do to solve this problem and attract qualified people to fill essential services?

To attract qualified candidates, the city should offer competitive salaries and benefits that reflect the cost of living in Honolulu. Right now, entry-level positions in city government do not pay a living wage. This needs to change.

While establishing decent pay for positions across city government will significantly reduce vacancies, we also need to ensure that hiring decisions and promotions are based on merit.

11. Oahu’s only municipal landfill is due to close in 2028, but the city still doesn’t know where to put the next one. What will you do to address this issue?

Foremost, the city should prioritize sustainable waste management programs — including the expansion of recycling programs and the development of waste-to-energy technologies — to reduce landfill dependency.

Furthermore, the continued dependence on the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill on Leeward Oahu, an area with a higher proportion of low-income and Native Hawaiian residents, raises issues of environmental justice and equity. Another landfill location is necessary, and such new location should be selected based on environmental impact assessments and community input.

12. What lessons have you learned from the Lahaina fire? What can be done to prevent devastating wildfires on Oahu?

The Lahaina fire was, in many ways, a failure of the government to protect the people of West Maui. Residents of West Maui knew of the wildfire risk posed to Lahaina long before last year. Despite the common knowledge of the risks, political leaders did not adequately prepare.

To prevent wildfires on Oahu, the Lahaina disaster taught us that we need a robust emergency response plan and competent professionals in emergency management leadership positions. Most notably, the fires underscore the need for political leaders to be proactive in anticipating risks and solving community challenges.

13. Is Honolulu a safe place to live? What can be done to improve the quality of life on the island?

Honolulu is one of the safest cities in the world, and that is an attribute of our community that should make us all proud. However, we must be proactive in ensuring that our community continues to remain safe and improve the few aspects of our island that are not safe — most notably pedestrian safety and public mental health crises.

Hawaii has the second-highest rate of pedestrian fatalities of any state in the United States. We can transform our roads into safe spaces for pedestrians by lowering the city speed limit to 20 mph, installing elevated sidewalks and expanding our protected bike lane network.

Anyone who lives in urban Honolulu has noticed a troubling rise in public mental health episodes. Providing greater resources for a nonpolice response to public mental health episodes, specifically Honolulu’s Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (C.O.R.E.) Program, will create safer streets and a long-term path to reducing homelessness.

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